Edwin



(No Model.) I j 'E.'0.-ROENI.GK.

AWNING.

vPads ented May 31, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN O. ROENIGK, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

AWNING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 476,074, dated May 31, 1892.

Application filed October 14, 1891- Serial No. 408,684. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN O. ROENIGK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Awnings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in awnings; and it has for its object to provide a simple, durable, and inexpensive awning constructed in such a manner that it can be easily and quickly operated,and which,when folded, will lie close to the building in a neat and compact manner.

With these ends in view my invention consists in constructing each side of the awning of a series of strips of unequal length, which lap one another at the bottom and are pivoted on a bolt passing through the series. The upper ends of the series of strips are beveled to correspond with the inclination of the top, and they are of such width that they just overlap at the upper ends, their length being so adjusted and proportioned that the upper ends of the series of strips will form acontinnous flush support for the top. The top is formed of some desirable flexible material, and it is secured to transverse pieces which connect the inner and outer side strips, respectively, so that when the awning is lowered the top will be drawn taut and rest easily on the sides.

To elevate the awning, I provide a rope, which passes through a pulley on the transverse strip connecting the outer side pieces, and is secured to the transverse strip connecting the inner side pieces, passing under the top to support the same as the awning is being elevated to prevent its falling into the space or recess formed between the longer side pieces and the shorter pieces. A short portion of the top is arranged to drop over the edge of the awning when lowered to form a curtain, and a bar is secured on each inner side piece which projects beyond the outer side piece and serves to draw the sides into a folded position when the awning is elevated, in connection with webs of a suitable strong material, which are fastened to the inner sides of the strips near the upper ends thereof and connect each strip of the series together.

My invention consists, further, of certain details of construction and arrangement of parts, as will more fully appear hereinafter- I have illustrated the invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a perspective View of the awning in a lowered position and broken away. Fig. II is a perspective View of the awning partly folded. Fig. III is a plan view of the inner side of one of the sides of the awning; and Fig. IV is a rear elevation of one of the sides, showing the series of strips of unequal length in a folded position.

Referring tothe drawings, in which like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in each of the figures, A A designate the sides of the awning, each of which con-,

sists of a series of narrow flat strips a, pivotally secured together on a bolt a, passing lap the upper edge of the next strip, and the extent of the lapping decreases from the pivotal point to the upper end of the strips.

To retain the strips in their proper positions, I connect them together at or near their upper ends by a Web I) of some strong flexible material, as leather, which is fastened on the inside of the strips, preferably at the overlapped edge. It will thus be readily seen that when the awning is lowered the web will be drawn taut and connect the spread upper ends of the strips; and when the awning is folded the web will not enter between the strips and impede their operation, but will fold or bulge in the position shown in Fig. IV. The outer and inner strips 0 D of the awning are preferably larger than the intermediate strips, for strength and protection, and they are connected at their upper ends by transverse pieces a d. On the inner strips D, near the upper end thereof, is provided a laterally-projecting rod or bar E, which extends across the series of strips and assists the webs in bringing the sides into a folded position.

The top F of this awning consists of some flexible material, which is fastened to the transverse piece 0, connecting the outer strips. This top is also fastened to the transverse piece d, connecting the inner strips, in such a manner that when the awning is lowered the top will be fully extended and drawn practically taut and will rest on the inclined upper ends of the series of strips forming the sides, which will also be fully extended and the webs connecting the strips drawn taut.

As shown in the drawings, I prefer to construct the top F of wooden strips f, of bamboo or other desirable wood, which are connected by a series of lacings f, extending throughout the length of the top F. This construction provides a neat and attractive top, which will readily fold upon itself when the awning is elevated, and by the arrangement of the lacing the strips f are spaced a slight distance apart to admit the light and are yet sufficiently close to prevent the suns rays from passing through too strongly. The lower end of the top extends beyond the transverse strip (1 and forms a loose curtain G.

To operate the awning, I provide a rope H, which is secured to the transverse strip d and passes under the top and through a pulley h on the strip 0 to a convenient position for operating. Besides providing a means for elevating the awning, this rope has another important function, which consists in supporting the top as it is being folded above the plane of the two transverse strips 0 d and out of the recess between the longer strips of the sides formed by the smaller strips.

I am aware that it is not new to provide awnings with sliding sides and tops; but in my construction and arrangement the strips forming the sides, being of unequal length, form a recess when the awning is elevated The awning may be secured to a building 7 in any desirable manner, and I have shown supports I, secured on the bolts a and adapted to be driven into the walls of a building.

I am aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and details of construction can be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of my invention, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fall within the scope of my invention. c

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In an awning, the series of strips of unequal lengths pivotally secured together at their lower ends and forming the sides of the awning, the transverse pieces connecting the inner and outer strips, the flexible top fastened to the transverse pieces only and adapted to rest loosely on the sides when the awning is lowered, the outwardly-projecting bars E on the inner strips of each side, the flexible web 12', secured to the upper edges of each strip near the top thereof, and the operating-rope, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Iaffix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

EDI/VIN O. ROENIGK.

Witnesses:

B. S. FAHNESTOCK, W. A. SCHMIDT. 

